McLaren's Mexican driver Sergio Perez smiles during a press conference during the second day of testing at Jerez racetrack, on February 6, 2013 in Jerez de la Frontera. (Photo: Getty Images)

#6 Sergio Perez (Vodafone McLaren Mercedes)
A year ago Sergio Perez looked set for a possible future at Ferrari, and yet instead he is stepping into the shoes of Lewis Hamilton at McLaren. The Mexican made an impact in his first season with Sauber in 2011 and last year caught the eye with three superb podium finishes in Malaysia, Canada and Italy. That was more than enough to earn him the McLaren opportunity. Having got the seat of his dreams he now has to prove both to the team and the world that he can deal with the pressure, fight at the sharp end on a consistent basis, and help team mate Button to push the team along. It’s in his hands...

#7 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus F1 Team)
When Kimi Raikkonen walked away from F1 at the end of a disappointing 2009 season few expected to see him return, but after a couple of seasons in rallying he felt the times was right. He chose Lotus over Williams for his 2012 comeback, and it proved to be a wise choice as the car was competitive and he slipped easily into the laidback environment of the team. He was a regular point scorer from the start of last season and scored a superb win in Abu Dhabi. Having regained his momentum he can only be stronger this year, and he should be in the thick of things from the start.

#8 Romain Grosjean (Lotus F1 Team)
Romain Grosjean made a rapid ascension through the ranks and was propelled into an F1 seat with Renault in the middle of 2009. It was too much too soon for the Franco-Swiss driver, who struggled to hold his own against Fernando Alonso. Against the odds he rebuilt his career over the next two years, winning the 2011 GP2 title and returning with the renamed Lotus team last year. He often proved faster in qualifying than his team mate, but an extraordinary series of first lap mishaps cost him dearly. He’s determined to put those problems behind him in 2013 but one slip could undo all his good work, so the pressure will be on.

#9 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team)
Many thought Nico Rosberg would have a hard time up against Michael Schumacher at Mercedes, but over their three years together the younger man generally had the upper hand. This year he takes on his former karting team mate Lewis Hamilton in what promises to be one of the most intriguing contests of the season. It would be unwise to underestimate Rosberg, who has amassed a huge amount of experience over the past seven seasons with Williams and Mercedes, and who showed his potential by winning in China last year. Not easily fazed, he has the mental strength to take on the toughest of team mates, and Hamilton is as tough as they come – his big advantage is that he has been in the team for three years already, and Lewis will be the man in the spotlight.

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Mercedes GP poses for a portrait during day three of Formula One winter test at the Circuit de Catalunya on February 21, 2013 in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo: Getty Images)

#10 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team)
Lewis Hamilton created a huge stir when he decided last September to leave McLaren for a new future at Mercedes, and all eyes will be on him in the early races of 2013. Hamilton enjoyed a rollercoaster ride during his six seasons with McLaren, from the high of his 2008 title win to the lows of a string of controversial incidents both on and off the track. The move to Mercedes provides him with a fresh start and a different environment, and he’s clearly relishing the challenge of working with new faces and helping the team to move forwards. If the car is in the top two or three fastest on a given weekend he has to be in with a shout. The problem he faces is that as soon as anything goes wrong, he’ll be under intense media scrutiny – not that he hasn’t experienced that before...